Liverpool's Coutinho can be in the same bracket as Messi and Suarez, declares Jordan Henderson

17-08-2016

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson believes teammate Philippe Coutinho has what it takes to join the likes of Lionel Messi and former Red Luis Suarez in the upper echelon of footballing greatness if he can continue his current rate of development.

Captain has huge praise for "fantastic" Coutinho

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, the Reds captain noted how Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and the club's former No.7 Luis Suarez are "seen as the elite players in world football."

He declared: "Philippe has certainly got the talent, the work ethic and the hunger to get into that bracket. He's a fantastic player for us."

Henderson said that he has "seen him develop as a player" in his years at Liverpool and acknowledged that he is "still only 24."

Coutinho's brace was the highlight of Liverpool's win at Arsenal. (Picture: Getty Images)

The midfielder insisted that if Coutinho "continues to work as hard as he does" and "continues to develop like he has done" then he is "sure" that he will "be in that bracket before long" because he's still only "very young."

Henderson hoped that it "won't be long" before people regard Coutinho "alongside the Messis of the world" and insisted for Liverpool it is only a matter of trying to "keep him fit" and "keep him playing like that" because of how "brilliant" he was at Arsenal.